Connector with take-up means



Jan. 19, 1965 H. G. CQLMER, JR 3,166,297

CONNECTOR WITH TAKE-UP MEANS Filed Sept. 7. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 INVENTOR @my 50m die 19% ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1965 H. G. CQLMER, JR 3,166,297

` 'CONNECTOR WITH TAKE-UP MEANS Filed Sept. 7. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oiitice j Patented Jan. 19, 1965 3,166,297 CONNECTOR WITH TAKE-UP MEANS Henry G. Colmer, Jr., 4263 Belvedere St., Mobile, Ala. Filed Sept. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 136,508 5 Claims. (Cl. 254-67) This invention relates to connectors, and particularly to connectors incorporating -take-up devices whereby the connecting element may be drawn tant to hold the connected Objects tightly to one another. v

It is frequently necessary to fasten securely one object to another by means of a cable, or other ilexible member. While this need arises in many elds, a particularly good example is the securing together of a towboat and a barge. Although barges are often pulled behind towboats, in which case it is only necessary .to connect the towline to a cleat or butt on the towboat, the towboat and i barge are many times lashed side by side. In this latter event, it is essential that the securing means be very tight, so that the two vessels will be held in contact with one another and there will be no bumping or scraping of their sides. Steel cables `are frequently used for this purpose, and a connector having some means for taking up the slack and pulling the line taut is required. Hand wheel operated Winches, ratchet and chain devices and other conventional` winding mechanisms have been used. These have several disadvantages, however, as they are diticult to handle, stand high above the deck and interfere with free movement on the deck, bend the cable as they tighten, and many times are expensive.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a connector which will be easy to operate, inexpen sive to manufacture, and will occupy little space on a boat deck.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a connector which has a take-up mechanism capable of operation at two speeds, to rapidly take-up slack, and` more slowly and with more power, pull the line tight.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector of this type wherein the pull exerted upon a cable will be in a straight line and the cable will not vbe weakened by bending.

.A further object is the provision of a connector which will permit its operating members to collapse when not in use so that there will be noupstanding parts to interfere with free movement around the deck.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector which Vhas an auxiliary operating member t permit the application of additional power when required.

Yet a further object is the provision ofapparatus of` this character which can be operated much more safely than those previously used.j

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one practical embodment thereof, when taken inconjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification. v f

In the drawings:

fFIGURE l is a side elevational veiw of a connector embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the connector;

FIGURE 3 is an enlargedvertical, transverse section, taken on theline 3-3 ofFIGURE 1, illustrating the cable hook and screw forward guide;

FIGURE 4 is another vertical, transverse section, taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l, showing the auxiliary ratchet operator and the operating handle frame;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section through the screwadvancing nut, and is .taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the nut-supporting hub. Y

of'the'hook is pivotally connected to the hinge loopgand has its bill end 18`resting upon the shank 13. Locking In general, the invention consists of a base frame, xed to a boat deck, or other surface, and supporting a screwadvancing nut to move a screw longitudinally to tighten a cableconnected to the end of the screw. There are means for advancing the nut bodily along the base for rapid take up of slack, and for rotating the screw to obtain a power tightening of the line. A ratchet and lever are provided for rotating the nut when greater leverage is required. The operating handle for the take-np mechanism is partially collapsible when not in use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, thebase 1 of th connector consists of a pair of transversely spaced, parallel side plates 2, which are bridged at their ends by a front plate 3 and a back plate 4. Intermediate spacers 5 connect the plates at their bottoms. While the base could be fastened to a boat deck by bolts through spacers 5, it is preferred to weld the base to the boat deck. The front plate is notched at its top center, as at 6, to slidingly receive the connector screw, hook, or the cable, depending upon tlie longitudinal position of lthe take-up mechanism relative to the base. A bail 7 bridges the top of the front plate to prevent upward movement of the connector elements. The back plate 4 is recessed in its top, as at 8, to seat the operating handle when collapsed, as will be described.

The upper edges of .the rear portions of the side plates` are indented to provide a plurality of rearwardly inclined notches 9. .The notches of the two side plates are aligned transversely to provide'a series of seats at progressively greater distances from the frontend of the base. These provide means for a fast preliminary takeup of the cable, as will be explained. I

The forward portions of the side plates have guide rails 1) mounted upon their tops to support a hook carriage 11. The carriage has a pair of rail slides 12, which encircle the exposed portions of the rails 10 and hold the carriage on 'the rails for sliding movement. A slotted pelican hook shank 13 projects forwardly fromrthe carriage, and a beak hinging loop 14 and locking loop 15 are mounted in the slot 16 of the shank. The beak 17 loop 15 is slipped overthe bill end of the beak, and holds it against the shank. Wings 19 project forwardly from the shank'to underlie the hinge loop 14 to prevent it from dropping down as the cable is being handled, to take up the slack. The carriage has a pair of spaced arms 20 at,

the rear, between which one end of a take-up screw 21 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 22. The opposite end of screw 21 is threaded through a 1-nut 23 which is supported on the base by means of a bridge 24. The bridge includes a hub 25 which surrounds and 'rotatably )Zournals the nut 23.` The hub carries outwardly projectIng lstuds 26 which are adapted to seat in selected notches 9 to mount the bridge on the base.

A U-shaped stirrup is provided which is pivotally mounted on the studs 26. The stirrup includes a pair of legs 27, through which the studs pass, and a crossmember 28. The legs have upwardly extending ears 29, and the cross-member is connected to the ears by means of a. pivotpin 30 which passes through the ears and carried at the bottom`of an operating shaft 42 slidablyl and rotatably mounted in the `sleeve 3S. An operating handlej 43 is lixedk to the top of shaft 42. It will be clear that with shaft42fcoupled to the squared end 4i) of gear 37, rotation of -the shaft will cause rotation of nut 23 and axial movementzof screw 21 relative to the base.

The legs 27 of4 the stirrup terminate in feet 44 which extend horizontally forward wheny the stirrup and shaft 42 are'in vertical, operative position. The feet end in toes 45 for contact with the deck in preliminary setting up of the bridge and taking up slack in the cable, as will be described.

In order to allowfor the use of greater power in rotating nut 23 than would be possible by rotating the operatingy handle, the' nut has a'ratchet 46 on its end opposite the gear 36. A lever 47 is pivoted on the hub and carries a pawl 48 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet. The pawl is held against the ratchet by means of a spring 49, xed to the lever' and to a pin 50l carried by the pawl. The'pin lprojectsthrough a slot 51 in the lever to permit it to be moved to lift the pawl from the ratchet when the screw is to be turned back to release the cable.

As mentioned above, the base will be welded to the deck of a vessel, or to any other platform where it is to be used. In'connecting a towline, the cable 52 has itsl loop 53 slipped over the bill 18 of the hook beak 17 and the beak is rotated to rest upon the hook shank 13. Lock A ring is slipped over the bill to hold the hook closed The bridge assembly can then be moved back along the base to take the slack out of the cable and position the studs 26 ini the proper notches 9. If Ithe cable is hard to 'pull taut, the bridge assembly can be tilted forward to rest upon the toes 45 and the assembly rocked back by pulling on thev handle43. This will cause the unit to fulcrum about the toes 4S and swing Ithe studs into a more After` rearwardly positioned notch'with' the cable taut. positioning the bridge, the operating handle can be rotated to revolvey the nut 'and cause the screw to move rearwardly. This will-tighten the cable. If additional power is needed, the ratchet lever can 'be rocked to 'cause further take-11p of the screw. The leverage of the ratchet lever can be increased by slipping a length of pipe over the end of the lever.-

When the cable is as'tight as desired, handle 43 can be lifted to disconnect shaftf'42'from gear 37, and the shaft, sleeve; and stirrup rocked about the studs 26 to cause the operating mechanism to assume a horizontal position. The sleeve and its connected cross-member 27 can rock around the pivot 30 to bring thehandle and shaft to a trulyhorizont-al position so that the entire coupling will present little height and, therefore, little obstructionv 26 clear of the top of the rear portions of the side plates. 70

The bridge assemblyy can then be moved forward along the base tore-position the studsy 26 in the proper notches 4. 9. `This will allow the cable to slacken. The cable can then be released from the hook.-

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the details of structure shownvand described are merely by way of example and the invention may take other forms within Vthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A connector comprising, a base having a pair of spaced parallel sidebars, the side bars each having an opposed plurality of longitudinally spaced notches forming ay pluralityl of seats, a bridge member having means for seating in selected. opposed notches of the pluralities of notches in the side bars, a nut rotatably carried by the bridge member, a screw threaded through the nut for axial movement longitudinally of the base when the nut is'rotated, a hook carried at one end of the screw, means carried by the bridge member and coupled to the nut for manual rotation of the screw, and a carriage mounted on'the side bars for sliding movement therealong, said carriage supporting the hook and the end of the screw carrying the hook.

2. A connector comprising, a base having a pair of spaced parallel side bars, the side bars each having an opposed plurality of longitudinally spaced notches forming a plurality of seats, a bridge member having means for seating in selected opposed notches of the pluralities of notches in the side bars, a nut rotatably carried by the bridge member, a screw threaded through the nut for axial movement longitudinally of the base when the nut is rotated, a hook carried at one end of the screw, means carried by the bridge member and coupled to the nut for manual rotation of the screw, the means coupled to the nut including a bevel gear xed to the nut, a second bevel gear in rnesh with the rst mentioned gear rotatably mounted on the bridge member, an operating shaft rotatably carried by the bridge member and releasably coupled to the second bevel gear, a ratchet fixed to the nut, a lever rockably mounted on the nut, and a pawl carried by the lever for engagement with the ratchet to rotate the nut when the lever is rocked in one direction.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein, a stirrup is pivotally mounted on thev bridge member for rocking movement in the vertical longitudinal plane of the base, a sleeve mounted in operative engagement with the stirrup, the shaft being rotatably and slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a fulcrum carriedA by the stirrup for engagement with the surface upon which the base is mounted to permit bodily movement of the bridge member relative tothe base when the stirrup is rocked about the fulcrum. l

1 4. A connector as claimed in Vclaim 3 wherein, the sleeve is pivotally connected to the stirrup to permit limited rocking movement of the sleeve relative to the stlrrup.

5. A connector as claimed in claim k4 wherein there is a carriage mounted'on the side bars for sliding movement therealong, said carriage supporting the hook andthe end of the screw to which the hook is connected.

References Cited by the Examiner Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,170,992 2/ 16 Purdy 254--98 1,190,976 7/16 Bartley 74-424.8 1,765,397 6/30 Birkenmaier 254--67 2,742,865 4/'56 Chandler et al. 105--369 2,818,229 12/57 Gunthans 254--67 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

HARRISONv R. MOSELEY, Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR COMPRISING, A BASE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL SIDE BARS, THE SIDE BARS EACH HAVING AN OPPOSED PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED NOTCHES FORMING A PLURALITY OF SEATS, A BRIDGE MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR SEATING IN SELECTED OPPOSED NOTCHES OF THE PLURALITIES OF NOTCHES IN THE SIDE BARS, A NUT ROTATABLY CARRIED BY THE BRIDGE MEMBER, A SCREW THREADED THROUGH THE NUT FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BASE WHEN THE NUT IS ROTATED, A HOOD CARRIED AT ONE END OF THE SCREW, MEANS CARRIED BY THE BRIDGE MEMBER AND COUPLED TO THE NUT FOR MANUAL ROTATION OF THE SCREW, AND A CARRIAGE MOUNTED 